AGM 2025

BONSAI EXHIBIT

Ink Dance, Yim Tse: A Half Century of Caligraphy

CSAA is pleased to present a new exhibit in cooperation
with the Tse Family, the UBC Asian Library and UBC Asian Centre
1871 West Mall, Vancouver Campus,
Musqueam Traditional Territory

Free closing program, Saturday, June 10th, 2-4pm
David Gooderham and Greta Ho present
an informal talk on calligraphy and Yim Tse
accompanied by a calligraphy demonstration.
Participants are invited to create their own calligraphy.

Exhibit Saturday, May 13, 2023 to Saturday, June 10, 2023

WASHI – Japanese Paper Art

Washi is Japanese handmade paper, steeped in tradition that dates back more than a thousand years and the foundation for a myriad of Japanese cultural arts. In artwork, washi traditionally is used in the making of mokuhanga or woodblock prints where there is an integral relationship between the paper and the artist’s expression. 

Taking washi and mokuhanga as a starting point, this exhibit showcases the work of Canadian artists Naoko Matsubara and Alexa Hatanaka. Although from different generations, the trajectories of both artists include being of Japanese ancestry, working with the Inuit artist community in the North, and exploring the merging of cross-cultural techniques of Western and Eastern influences in their artmaking. Driven by curiosity, spontaneity, and supportive relations that mold their creative journey, the diversity of each artist’s oeuvre is fascinating to explore. 

This exhibit includes a heritage corner drawn from Nikkei National Museum’s archives.

 We are grateful to launch this exhibit in cooperation with the Canadian Society for Asian Arts and with the support of the BC Arts Council and the Deux Mille Foundation.

CSAA Program Information 2021 – 2022

Exhibition Series:
“Speed and Splendour: by Sea to Asia” an exhibit of graphic depiction of transpacific travel to Asia in the early years of the 20th C, on view November 23, 2021 – February 27, 2022, is presented in cooperation with the Vancouver Maritime Museum. An accompanying video highlighting the story of tourist travel to Asia is available on the website.

“WASHI (Japanese Paper Art) connecting cultures, countries and generations” featuring the work of Canadian artists Naoko Matsubara and Alexa Hatanaka explores washi and woodblock printing. The exhibit is now open at the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre.

“Ink Dance: 50 Years of Calligraphy by Yim Tse” presented in cooperation with The Asian Library at the University of British Columbia, is now scheduled at the Asian Centre in the spring of 2023. A video on Ink Dance and the major themes in Yim Tse’s calligraphy is in production and will be available online in 2022.

Asian Illuminations Series:
Virtual programs in spring 2021 included: Ink Dance – a talk and video demonstration of Chinese calligraphy; Scott Williams on the west coast Manila Galleon shipwrecks; and Bird Tracks in the Air, a book launch of Chinese poetry. The events were held in cooperation with the Asian Library, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Maritime Museum and Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society, respectively. Recordings of the events will be available on the CSAA website.

Several talks and demonstrations are also under development, including events on Japanese Kodo or Incense Ceremonies, Japanese Noh Mask Carving, the Art of the Tokonoma, the Cham Culture of Vietnam, Asia Pacific Folk Masks and Design in the Nitobe Garden. Programs offer rare opportunities to experience these art forms with Asian art and culture specialists.

Check the website for updates, to become a member, donate or sign up for event notices. All programs follow BC Health guidelines. CSAA continues to increase program accessibility by offering more virtual online displays, videos and events while maintaining in-person exhibits and programs.

CSAA acknowledges the challenges posed by Covid-19 and remains committed to presenting Asian art and culture programs now and in the future. We look forward to seeing you soon, in person or virtually!

— The CSAA Board